What a balmy day!
Wisconsin
Contributors to this thread:
What a balmy day today! Hope none of you keel over from heat exhaustion.
Who's going hunting today?
Tips and tactics for this great weather?
If it stays clear I set up farther away from food sources along well used trails. Closer to bedding grounds because they seem to move later than if it would be cloudy. Body heater suit with a bunch of hand and body warmers. Wool cap, warm boots and the warmest clothes you have. Make sure to let someone know where you are and what time you plan on being out of the woods. Call them and let them know you are at the truck safely and on your way home.
Be safe!
Tweed. Hunt mid day. Try to get in there bedroom. South slopes if possible. They won't move much today but cannot shoot them in house. I just put another log on fire and made a cup of cofeee... might get out later...
Grab your bow and practice today before you head out. I just returned from walking my lab retrievers this morning. Grabbed my Matthews bow and tried to shoot some arrows. The bow is set at 60 lbs. I could not pull the bow back at -11 degrees. I did the same thing Ranger 620 did. More coffee. But no hunting for me today.
Doing the same here Ranger.
I haven't found boots that keep my feet as warm as the rest of my body yet. On days like this I can only stand it for about an hour and a half.
Tweed try a pair of Mickey Military boots 1 size big and wear 2 pair of Wool socks. Should help keep feet warm and dry. Can pick up a pair for under $70 and will last forever. Good luck
I like 20s and teens but single digit and below zero temps I stay home. I am going out to attempt to get my cams down until it warms up a little.
Dusk- Man! I've been looking for $70 bunny/Micky boots forever that are in decent shape.
This January I might finally just go over to Sherpers and buy a new pair.
Raspy- that happened to me yesterday. Had a group of 7 come by (mixed does and fawns) at 15 yards. Raised at the first one but couldnt hold my #50 recurve. Raised at the last one but had bad form/anchor points. Too cold...too many clothes. Went right over her back.
They were down wind of me and didn't even blink at my movement or missed shot....just kept on strolling by lol.
Tweed--no need for new boots. Buy some ice shield boot covers and be done with it. I wear my rubber boots and the shields. Put them on right when you get to your stand. You'll prob wish you bought them years ago
Well I just got back from rehab, and we have little wind,,,, its 4 above zero and sunny and at 11am, deer in the field......
Tweed I can get you those boots cheaper than that,,,, send me pm,,,,,,,,
ice shield boot covers are nice, but not for walking,,,,, I have a 1200 gram Rocky boot, that I can not wear out, and it sees a lot of use,,,,, 7 years of hard walking in the cold, nice boot,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I like the Mickey Mouse, when I do not have to go far
In this cold nothing beats Stegar Mukluks for warmth and flexibilty...just keep 'em dry! They ain't made for standing in water, but if they're dry they are the bomb for warm feet...and they're LIGHT.
I took a nap and just woke up
Guess they're safe today.
I just arrived in Missouri for a late season Muzzleloader hunt. This one is going to be brutal.
I use to hunt these brutal arctic snaps when I was younger. I always hunted mid day. I sat trails between bedding areas and food sources. Can't take the cold now like I use to plus my shoulders are shot now. This morning it was minus 21 and a high of minus six today excluding the chill factor. brrrrrrr
Hey Grunter....I bought the very first generation of the Artic Shield boot covers and never felt a huge difference so I never bothered again....are these newer ones different in some way?
This was the view through my glasses today.
Franklin--i dunno mine are prob at least 10 years old. I might have gen 1 too?? I only wear my rubber boots and 2 pair merino wool socks. The trick is to put them on right when you get in your stand. I use the Ice Breaker boot covers.
Grunter's Link
I can sit all day long in temps at 0 and have no issues with my feet getting cold using these. Again the trick is putting them on right when you get up in stand--or if on ground put on right away
Cold and very few deer moving this afternoon. I hunted a funnel from a swamp to a cut corn field. I was toasty warm in my Body Heater suit. Saw one small buck and never took my bow off the hanger as my buck tag was punched on October 1. Checked the camera and the deer are moving at night with the clear skies.
smokey's Link
To clear up some confusion. Arctic Shield boot Insulators and Ice Breaker boot Blankets are two different products. I have both. The Arctic Shield I bought (medium size 8-9) will not fit over my Muck Woody Max boots (size 8-9) so I need to buy the large for shoe size 10-11. There was a post on this forum last year saying by putting on a pair of Smartwool socks then foot warmer and then another Smartwool sock, Arctic Shield then Boot blanket your feet stay warm all day long. Probably cannot walk in that combo but for stand hunting, it works. I have not had the chance to try it myself but with this recent cold snap, it would be a good time to try.
Here is another tip, that I use, for my cold weather boots,,,,, not for everyone, but I put a bread bad, over my socks, and than my feet slide easily into my boot
Minus 30 this morning! I'm not sure anything would've kept my feet warm on days like this.
I thought the bread bags were only for those awful moon boots of the 80s.
I have some of the old Boot Blankets, if you put them on when your feet are cold, they will stay cold unless you take your boots off before you put the Blankets on with foot warmers, if you put them on when your feet are warm from the walk in when you put them on, your feet will stay warm for hours without the need for foot warmers. They can be tough to get on once you are in your tree stand, I suggest putting them on before you climb. I remember trying to put them on while 20+ feet up in my climber before I started using any type of safety system, I honestly don't know how I was able to do it without hitting the ground really hard!!
Inmyelement - I had a pair of those awful moon boots many years ago. I used bread bags in them, but my feet sweated and then they got really cold. The worse boots I've ever owned. Threw them out after a few times of wearing them.
"Tweed--no need for new boots. Buy some ice shield boot covers and be done with it. I wear my rubber boots and the shields. Put them on right when you get to your stand" I will add here that you put your 'Hot Hands Insole Foot Warmers with adhesive' into your ice shield boot covers as you carry them to your stand. The foot warmers activate with the air as you walk in and are toasty warm when you slide your boots into them. A win win.